Strange as it may seem visiting a cemetery can be a fascinating experience. Here at Milan’s Cimitero Monumentale that is especially true. It is more than just a final resting place.
The Cimitero Monumentale is an open-air museum. It showcases impressive sculptures and monuments. These were built for the tombs of Milan’s rich and famous.
After Italy’s independence in 1861 the city decided to consolidate Milan’s small cemeteries. The Cimitero Monumentale was created for the wealthy. The Cimitero Maggiore was for common people.
Carlo Maciachini designed the Cimitero Monumentale between 1863 and 1866. It originally covered eighteen hectares. It later expanded to twenty-five acres.
A wide central lane lined with trees defines the layout. It leads from the Famedio to the Ossario and Crematorio. Monumental tombs line the left and right. Famous sculptors and architects designed these tombs. Names like Pirelli, Campari and Toscanini mark Milan’s elite.
The Famedio is the hall of fame. It is a central domed structure. The building has a 250-meter-long black and white striped facade.
Inside the Famedio lie illustrious Milan citizens. Nobel Prize winner Salvatore Quasimodo rests here. Novelist Alessandro Manzoni is also here. Architect Luca Beltrami is known for renovating the Sforzesco Castle. He is also interred in the Famedio. Two small areas are reserved for non-Catholics.
Milan’s wealthy families competed with large tombs. Decorations include sculptures of angels and sphinxes. Architectural styles vary widely. Egyptian, Neo-Roman and Art Nouveau styles are all present. Modernist and post-modern styles are represented too.
The sheer volume of art creates an open-air museum. Visitors are often overwhelmed by the mausoleums and sculptures. Placards guide visitors to the most famous graves.
The Bocconi family tomb is notable. They founded the Rinascente warehouse and Bocconi University. The tomb features a marble baldachin. Statues of mourning women stand at the foot of a crucified Jesus.
Jesus is a recurring theme. The Campari tomb depicts the Last Supper. Giannino Castiglioni created the life-size statues. Castiglioni also worked on Antonio Bernocchi’s mausoleum. He created a marble spiraling band showing the Way of the Cross.
Many other important artists contributed to the Cimitero Monumentale. These include Giacomo Manzù and Lucio Fontana.
The Cimitero Monumentale also features a Jewish section. It was designed by Carlo Maciachini. It opened in 1872. The section includes monuments and family shrines.
The Crematorium Temple was the first crematorium in the Western world. It opened in 1876. It operated until 1992. Its architecture is Greek Revival.
Signals throughout the Cimitero Monumentale mark famous graves. Alessandro Manzoni’s tomb is at the Famedio’s center. Arturo Toscanini also rests here.
Visiting the Cimitero Monumentale offers a unique insight. It reveals Milan’s history and artistic achievements. It is a place of remembrance and artistic appreciation.